6 ms·

Tell HN: You can block YouTube ads on iOS 15 using Safari Extensions

75 points by busymom0 5y ago

I just upgraded my 7 year old iPhone 6S to iOS 15 and discovered that Safari Extensions now lets you block YouTube ads if you use YouTube via safari. This is one of the things I used android as my media consumption device and glad to see iOS allowing it too. I used “Adblock Pro” which I got for free from App Store (I am not affiliated with them). Other adblocker should work too.

nicbou 5y ago
I prefer the web version of YouTube because the app has way too many ads. I was really disappointed to see that uBlock doesn't work on Firefox for iOS. I bought an iPad for other purposes, but if was meant as a media consumption device, I'd return it. The internet is unusable if you can't block ads and cookie notices. Does Safari have something better? I'd lose my history/password sync, but at least the web would be a bit more usable.
- Larrikin 5y ago
  Firefox Focus has some limited ad blocking built in.
- TechBro8615 5y ago
  The web version of YouTube on mobile Safari has some Javascript that prevents you from using the native iOS picture in picture. It literally hijacks it. You open the video, click the picture-in-picture button, and then when it minimizes, the YouTube website forces it back into its canvas player (I have confirmed this in a debugger). They obviously do this because they want you to download the YouTube app which has its own picture-in-picture mode and advertisements that are more difficult to block. It's basically an antitrust micro-aggression. Not serious enough to get any attention, but combined with the rest of Google's behavior, it's death by 1000 cuts.
  - Mindwipe 5y ago
    > They obviously do this because they want you to download the YouTube app which has its own picture-in-picture mode and advertisements that are more difficult to block. They do it because their agreements with the record labels prohibit it, as the labels do not want YouTube to be a free Spotify competitor. It appears that YouTube recently have made a little bit of ground convincing (or at least are doing AB testing in the hopes of convincing) the labels this doesn't happen and enabling it in the app, but there's no anti-trust concern here as Apple would have the same issue. Indeed, I suspect the reason Apple do not raise a stink about it is because they do not want to endanger their relationship with the labels for Apple Music.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- TechBro8615 5y ago
  Yes, there are many ad blocker extensions on the App Store. I use 1Blocker. These work by providing declarative rule and filter lists to the browser; they do not execute code. As of iOS 15 you can also install web extensions which is what this post is about. They can execute code.
0XAFFE 5y ago
You can also pay 12 euros per month and don’t have any ads.
- busymom0 5y ago
  I am moving away from YouTube to Odysee and other platforms. Don't want a penny going to YouTube. I pay to people I follow via Substack, Locals boards and other merchandise ways.
  - TechBro8615 5y ago
    This is a reasonable stance. It's funny that the common retort to YouTube censorship is not to use it and to go somewhere else, but then you get downvoted for saying that's exactly what you're doing.
    - busymom0 5y ago
      Looks like few people read my comment and then went and downvoted many of my recent comments on HN.
      - randombits0 5y ago
        Welcome to Reddit!
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- nsoxo 5y ago
  I don't know where you are going with this. If your argument is that ad blocking is immoral then say it so you can be downvoted.
  - kobalsky 5y ago
    I don't think ad-blocking is immoral, on the contrary I think it's necessary, and I despise the amount of ads thrown at us. My computers and phones have every form of adblocker/sponsorblocker available. That being said, I can afford it so I would be a humongous hypocrite if I didn't support services when an ad-free option exists.
beezischillin 5y ago
You can also install the app "X.app" from the app store and just use the Share menu inside the YouTube app to open videos in X.app without ads, then you can go fullscreen from there or activate PiP. You used to be able to do this with the Scriptable app and Shortcuts but it stopped working under iOS 15.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
SHAKEDECADE 5y ago
I've used AdBlock by Future Mind for years. Paid something minuscule like $2 and it's DNS based with a High granularity of control.
- cassianoleal 5y ago
  DNS-based ad blockers usually don't work with YouTube because ads are served from the same domains as the videos. Have you had a different experience with this blocker?
smbv 5y ago
I use a dns level blocker on iOS. Blocks ads in apps too. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dnscloak-secure-dns-client/id1452162351 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dnscloak-secure-dns-client/id1...
- giuliomagnifico 5y ago
  DNS blocker blocks ads based on domain, and YouTube delivers the ads from the same domain it serves videos. Like on Pi-Hole, is not possible block YouTube ads via dns blockers, you should use an extension.
  - DavideNL 5y ago
    To clarify: you should use both. (because only browsers have content blockers, most other apps don’t.)
bradydjohnson 5y ago
Get AdBlock Pro for Safari with this link and unlock an extra feature (like blocking of video ads, tracking or cookie prompts) https://adblockpro.app/?r=355EAC https://adblockpro.app/?r=355EAC
bradydjohnson 5y ago
For those looking for the app OP is referring to, here’s a referral link that will unlock an additional feature (like blocking of video ads, tracking, or cookie prompts). https://adblockpro.app/?r=355EAC https://adblockpro.app/?r=355EAC
Nextgrid 5y ago
You can also run your own instance of Invidious (https://github.com/iv-org/invidious https://github.com/iv-org/invidious) which provides a lightweight web-based replica of YouTube, with no ads or dark patterns. There are public instances: https://redirect.invidious.io https://redirect.invidious.io but I suggest running your own as the public ones are often overloaded.
- rafael_c 5y ago
  Videos are all capped at 720p, though, right?
  - Nextgrid 5y ago
    I believe you can go higher if you enable DASH streaming.
cl3misch 5y ago
I have been blocking ads in Safari in iOS with AdGuard for "content filters" forever. What is the difference on iOS 15?
- busymom0 5y ago
  Before iOS 15 that didn't block the video ads on YouTube.
  - hybridtupel 5y ago
    I am also using AdGuard for several years now and it always blocked the YouTube ads in mobile Safari for me. Recently some quirks appeared which require to refresh the page one time to load the actual video. Other than that it works very well.
f0e4c2f7 5y ago
For general adblocking on Android you can also use Firefox with unlock origin which is supported in the mobile version. Firefox on Android seems like it works a little worse than chrome but is completely worth it to me to avoid ads. As an aside I'll also say that youtube music comes with YouTube premium so you can get a Spotify like music service + no ads on YouTube for $12/mo
freediver 5y ago
Orion browser blocks Youtube ads on iOS even before version 15 thanks to a built in adblocker. It also allows Picture in Picture support for Youtube videos. (disclaimer: developer) https://browser.kagi.com https://browser.kagi.com
thejackgoode 5y ago
You can also avoid ads in iOS Safari YouTube by just refreshing the page immediately. Here, I said it.
replwoacause 5y ago
Are there any extensions that can do this without putting a drain on the battery? That seems to be a popular complaint with many of these ad blockers.

75 points by busymom0 5y ago

nicbou 5y ago

I prefer the web version of YouTube because the app has way too many ads. I was really disappointed to see that uBlock doesn't work on Firefox for iOS. I bought an iPad for other purposes, but if was meant as a media consumption device, I'd return it. The internet is unusable if you can't block ads and cookie notices. Does Safari have something better? I'd lose my history/password sync, but at least the web would be a bit more usable.

Larrikin 5y ago
Firefox Focus has some limited ad blocking built in.
TechBro8615 5y ago
The web version of YouTube on mobile Safari has some Javascript that prevents you from using the native iOS picture in picture. It literally hijacks it. You open the video, click the picture-in-picture button, and then when it minimizes, the YouTube website forces it back into its canvas player (I have confirmed this in a debugger). They obviously do this because they want you to download the YouTube app which has its own picture-in-picture mode and advertisements that are more difficult to block. It's basically an antitrust micro-aggression. Not serious enough to get any attention, but combined with the rest of Google's behavior, it's death by 1000 cuts.
- Mindwipe 5y ago
  > They obviously do this because they want you to download the YouTube app which has its own picture-in-picture mode and advertisements that are more difficult to block. They do it because their agreements with the record labels prohibit it, as the labels do not want YouTube to be a free Spotify competitor. It appears that YouTube recently have made a little bit of ground convincing (or at least are doing AB testing in the hopes of convincing) the labels this doesn't happen and enabling it in the app, but there's no anti-trust concern here as Apple would have the same issue. Indeed, I suspect the reason Apple do not raise a stink about it is because they do not want to endanger their relationship with the labels for Apple Music.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
TechBro8615 5y ago
Yes, there are many ad blocker extensions on the App Store. I use 1Blocker. These work by providing declarative rule and filter lists to the browser; they do not execute code. As of iOS 15 you can also install web extensions which is what this post is about. They can execute code.

0XAFFE 5y ago

You can also pay 12 euros per month and don’t have any ads.

busymom0 5y ago
I am moving away from YouTube to Odysee and other platforms. Don't want a penny going to YouTube. I pay to people I follow via Substack, Locals boards and other merchandise ways.
- TechBro8615 5y ago
  This is a reasonable stance. It's funny that the common retort to YouTube censorship is not to use it and to go somewhere else, but then you get downvoted for saying that's exactly what you're doing.
  - busymom0 5y ago
    Looks like few people read my comment and then went and downvoted many of my recent comments on HN.
    - randombits0 5y ago
      Welcome to Reddit!
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
nsoxo 5y ago
I don't know where you are going with this. If your argument is that ad blocking is immoral then say it so you can be downvoted.
- kobalsky 5y ago
  I don't think ad-blocking is immoral, on the contrary I think it's necessary, and I despise the amount of ads thrown at us. My computers and phones have every form of adblocker/sponsorblocker available. That being said, I can afford it so I would be a humongous hypocrite if I didn't support services when an ad-free option exists.

beezischillin 5y ago

You can also install the app "X.app" from the app store and just use the Share menu inside the YouTube app to open videos in X.app without ads, then you can go fullscreen from there or activate PiP. You used to be able to do this with the Scriptable app and Shortcuts but it stopped working under iOS 15.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

SHAKEDECADE 5y ago

I've used AdBlock by Future Mind for years. Paid something minuscule like $2 and it's DNS based with a High granularity of control.

cassianoleal 5y ago
DNS-based ad blockers usually don't work with YouTube because ads are served from the same domains as the videos. Have you had a different experience with this blocker?

smbv 5y ago

I use a dns level blocker on iOS. Blocks ads in apps too. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dnscloak-secure-dns-client/id1452162351 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dnscloak-secure-dns-client/id1...

giuliomagnifico 5y ago
DNS blocker blocks ads based on domain, and YouTube delivers the ads from the same domain it serves videos. Like on Pi-Hole, is not possible block YouTube ads via dns blockers, you should use an extension.
- DavideNL 5y ago
  To clarify: you should use both. (because only browsers have content blockers, most other apps don’t.)

bradydjohnson 5y ago

Get AdBlock Pro for Safari with this link and unlock an extra feature (like blocking of video ads, tracking or cookie prompts) https://adblockpro.app/?r=355EAC https://adblockpro.app/?r=355EAC

bradydjohnson 5y ago

For those looking for the app OP is referring to, here’s a referral link that will unlock an additional feature (like blocking of video ads, tracking, or cookie prompts). https://adblockpro.app/?r=355EAC https://adblockpro.app/?r=355EAC

Nextgrid 5y ago

You can also run your own instance of Invidious (https://github.com/iv-org/invidious https://github.com/iv-org/invidious) which provides a lightweight web-based replica of YouTube, with no ads or dark patterns. There are public instances: https://redirect.invidious.io https://redirect.invidious.io but I suggest running your own as the public ones are often overloaded.

rafael_c 5y ago
Videos are all capped at 720p, though, right?
- Nextgrid 5y ago
  I believe you can go higher if you enable DASH streaming.

cl3misch 5y ago

I have been blocking ads in Safari in iOS with AdGuard for "content filters" forever. What is the difference on iOS 15?

busymom0 5y ago
Before iOS 15 that didn't block the video ads on YouTube.
- hybridtupel 5y ago
  I am also using AdGuard for several years now and it always blocked the YouTube ads in mobile Safari for me. Recently some quirks appeared which require to refresh the page one time to load the actual video. Other than that it works very well.

f0e4c2f7 5y ago

For general adblocking on Android you can also use Firefox with unlock origin which is supported in the mobile version. Firefox on Android seems like it works a little worse than chrome but is completely worth it to me to avoid ads. As an aside I'll also say that youtube music comes with YouTube premium so you can get a Spotify like music service + no ads on YouTube for $12/mo

freediver 5y ago

Orion browser blocks Youtube ads on iOS even before version 15 thanks to a built in adblocker. It also allows Picture in Picture support for Youtube videos. (disclaimer: developer) https://browser.kagi.com https://browser.kagi.com

thejackgoode 5y ago

You can also avoid ads in iOS Safari YouTube by just refreshing the page immediately. Here, I said it.

replwoacause 5y ago

Are there any extensions that can do this without putting a drain on the battery? That seems to be a popular complaint with many of these ad blockers.